Tribunal Upholds Petra Sörling’s Narrow ITTF Election Win After Chaotic Doha Vote

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — An International Table Tennis Federation tribunal on Tuesday dismissed appeals challenging the outcome of the federation’s disputed presidential election in Doha and confirmed Petra Sörling’s 104-102 victory over Qatar’s Khalil al‑Mohannadi.

The appeals were filed by Al‑Mohannadi and by the Qatar table tennis federation after the May election in Doha descended into disorder. The meeting was halted amid accusations by Qatari supporters that some member federations had been allowed to vote online without proper authorization. The chaotic scene prompted the Swedish embassy in Qatar to be contacted to help ensure Sörling could safely leave the country.

An ITTF‑appointed tribunal composed of judges from Russia, Nigeria and Switzerland held a five‑hour hearing last Thursday and issued an urgent ruling dismissing the appeals. The tribunal said it had received extensive written submissions and supporting evidence in the months leading up to the hearing and, after considering the material and oral arguments, found insufficient grounds to overturn the election result.

Sörling, of Sweden, won the May vote by two votes in a 206‑member electorate. Al‑Mohannadi and his supporters had alleged procedural irregularities related to online voting access and authorization for certain national federations, arguments the tribunal rejected in its ruling.

The tribunal’s decision leaves the ITTF’s leadership unchanged and resolves the immediate legal challenge to the closely contested election. The narrow margin and the public disruptions in Doha had raised concerns among member federations and observers about governance and voting procedures within the sport’s global governing body.

The ITTF has not released additional details of any remedial steps it might take to address the procedural issues raised during the election, and the tribunal’s ruling did not prescribe specific reforms. The federation’s leaders have emphasized a commitment to moving forward with governance and competition plans for the sport.

The dispute had underscored tensions within international table tennis over transparency and voting processes. The tribunal’s dismissal of the appeals removes the immediate legal uncertainty but leaves lingering questions among some members about how the ITTF will strengthen electoral safeguards and prevent a recurrence of the events that disrupted the Doha meeting.

The Associated Press contributed reporting from Lausanne.